Bradley moves to London, resigns as Norwalk DTC chairman

Published 11:15 am, Wednesday, June 6, 2012

NORWALK -- No longer a city resident, Marc J. Bradley announced in writing to fellow members of the Norwalk Democratic Town Committee on Wednesday that he is resigning as committee chairman.

"I am writing today to formally offer my resignation as Norwalk's Democratic Town Committee chair(man) As of yesterday, I am no longer a resident of Norwalk, CT, and by law, our local NDTC and Democratic State Party rules, I must resign my post," Bradley wrote. "Our Vice Chair(woman) Brenda Penn-Williams will act as interim chair(woman) until a special meeting of the NDTC can be held to elect my replacement."

Bradley told The Hour on Wednesday that he had moved to London, England -- leaving Norwalk on Monday -- to be closer to his fiancee, whom he said is a native New Yorker but has a business in England.

"It's a new chapter in my life," said Bradley, speaking from London.

In his letter, Bradley said his decision to leave Norwalk "was not an easy one," but added it is "the right decision for my family right now."

Bradley, a District E Democrat who lived in Rowayton, served as Aide-de-camp to U.S. Senate candidate Ned Lamont in 2006. This year, he was elected to a second two-year term as NDTC chairman. At the same election, Penn-Williams was elected vice chairwoman of the committee.

Penn-Williams said Bradley informed her by telephone Wednesday that he was resigning as committee chairwoman. She said she was shocked by the news. Penn-Williams told The Hour that she has no desire to be permanant chairwoman of the committee but will gladly serve as interim chairwoman pending a special election at which a new chairman or chairwoman will be elected.

"I'll take the position (of interim chairwoman). I'm up to the task until the special election,"

Bradley told The Hour that it is his hope that NDTC members elect Vincent Mangiacopra, currently District D Democrats chairman, as town committee chairman. The special election, he said, likely will occur next week.

In his letter, Bradley thanked Mangiacopra, District C Democrats Chairwoman Amanda Brown, Congressman Jim Himes, D-4, state Sen. Bob Duff, D-25, state Rep. Bruce V. Morris, D-140, and state Rep. Christopher R. Perone, D-137, members of the Common Council and Board of Education, as well as Peter Thor, former NDTC chairman and currently treasurer, Galen Wells, former NDTC chairwoman and currently secretary, and Stuart W. Wells, the city's Democratic registrar of voters.

"Our party is on the right side of the issues facing Norwalk," Bradley wrote. "I am sorry that I will not be with you to make this next stand, but I look forward to reading about our city's continued success and our party's gains in this coming election, and beyond."